Cigarette dispenser and lighter



NOV. 7, 1967 pgsg gus 3,351,735

CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND LIGHTER Filed spt; s, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 WM),Lassa/av mmvr may;

Now 7, 1967 Filed Sept "s, 1965 M. DESBIENS CIGARETTE DISPENSER ANDLIGHTER 7 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I INVENTOR lggrcelllh ZESB/ENS mravr AGE/V7","Fil'ed Se t. 5, 1965 Nov. 7, 1967 v I I M. DESBIENSI 3, 5

CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND LIGHTER v luvwrok v mite/lit) DESB/EMF 6-Sheets-Sheet 4' PATENT AGENT U i d State P n CIGARETTE DISPENSER ANDLIGHTER Marcellin Desbiens, 1395 Rachel St. E., Apt. 4,

MontreaL'Quebec, Canada Filed Sept. 3, 1965, Sax-.No. 485,002 Claims.(Cl. 219-261) The present invention relates to apparatus for dispensingand lighting cigarettes or the like and particularly to an arrangementof this character'specially,suitable for mounting on the instrumentpanel of an automobile.

The general object of the present invention resides in the provision ofan apparatus ofthe character described, which is so arranged that thecigarettes are disposed within the apparatus parallel to the long axisof the automobile, whereby the entire apparatus occupies a minimumtransversal extent of the instrument panel and, there-fore,

there is left ample space for positioning the remaining instrumentsonthe panel.

Another important object of the present invention resides in theprovision of an apparatus of the character described, in which thelighted cigarette is discharged'from the apparatus into a position to bereadily grasped by the user'and in which only, the non-lighted end ofthe cigarette protrudes from the apparatus whereby the user cannot burnhisfingers.

Another important object of the present invention resides in the,provision oftan apparatus ofthe character described, in which, inaccordance with a first embodiment,

cigarettes of at least two different brands or types may be selectivelydischargedfrom the apparatus. a

Another object of the. present invention resides in the provision of anapparatus ofthe character described, having, in accordance with a firstembodiment, cigarette storage means'which can be removed from theremaining part of the apparatus in order to facilitatefrlling of thesame with cigarettes side by side and in parallel relationship with thelongitudinal axis of the automobile.

Another important object of the presentinvention resides in theprovision of, anapparatus of the character described, which is providedwith means to prevent the discharge of more than one cigaretteinto'cigarette-igniting position, whereby jamming of the apparatus isprevented.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of anapparatus ofthe character described, which is readily adaptable to bemounted on all kinds-of instrument panels. I I g I i Yet another objectof the present invention resides in the provision of an apparatus ofthecharacter; described,

which, in accordance with a second embodiment of the.

invention, is mounted in the instrument panel of an auto:

mobile in such a way that it can be loaded from the front of theinstrument panel and which can be filled with cigarettes of differentlengths, and in which the vacuum produced by the engine of the motorvehicle is used 'for operating some of mechanisms of the apparatus toprovide a simplified mechanical construction.

' The. foregoing and other important objects of the present inventionwill become more apparent during the following disclosure and byrefer-rring to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus in accordancewith the first embodiment;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective. view of oneportion of the mechanism forretaining cigarettes and feeding the same,

One at a time, into cigarette-igniting position;

. 'FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus;

i FIGURE 3a is a partial longitudinal section on an enlarged scale; Y e

FIGURES 4, 5, and 6 are partial end viewsof the apparatus showing threeditferent positions of the mecha different types or brands.

a cigarette is in igniting position; i

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the apparatus in I r p L p g 7 icenism for locking .the selecting and feeding means, when accordance withthe second embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal section of the same; 7

V FIIGURE 9 is a longitudinal section of part of the. mechanism shown inFIGURE. 8, but in another position; 7

FIGURE 10 is aperspective view of the mechanism for retaining cigarettesand feeding the same one at atime into cigarette-igniting position; 1 V

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view'of the mechanism of FIGURE 10, but incigarette-unloading position FIGURES 12 to 14 inclusive show, inschematic view, the apparatus-in accordance with the second embodimentin different stages of its operation. t I

- Referringnow moreparticularly. to the drawings. in whichlike referencecharacters indicate like elements throughout, the apparatus 'inaccordance with the first embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 to 6, compriseacasing 1 g and a removable magazine 2 for storing the plurality ofcigarettes and adapted :to fit within the casing 1. Magazine 2 is in thefrom of elongated container of substantially rectangular shapein plansection, and having flat parallel front and back walls 3 and 4respectively and side walls 5. The magazine 2 is open at the top andbottom, the top end being provided with a marginal outwardly extendingflange 6 depending fromtheifront, back and side walls.

The lower portion of the magazine 2 is tapered, as shown in FIGURE 1,and the inside of the magazine is provided with a vertical partition 7extending in thelongitudinal central plane of the'magazine, as showninFIG- URE 5, thereby defining two cigarette compartments 7:.

'sides of the magazine and are adapted to receive angue la rly disposedouter and lower fingers 11 and 12 respectively of a cigarette-retainingmechanism shown in 9 FIGURE 2.

- 9 and the upper fingers 11 are in retracted position, where- Thismechanism comprises a bar 13 securedto the side of the magazine 2 and onwhich are pivoted the fingers 11 and 12 which are arranged in two spacedpairs longitudinally of bar 13; each pair of fingers 11 and 12 formspart of a U-shapedelement straddling the bar 13 and pivotdthereonintermediate its end at 14. The fingers are of angular shapes'uch thatthe portion of the fingers protruding through slots 10 and passage 9 aresuperposed, but at rightangles to each other.

actuating rod 15 is pivotally connected at 16 to each pair of fingers 11and 12. The front end of rod 15' is provided with a head 17 having acircumferential groove 18 made therein; s

7 Referring to FIGURE 2 itwill be noted that longitudinal dis-placementof 'rod 16 will cause pivoting movement of fingers 11 and 12, inaccordance with double arrows 19, 20, and 21. In one limit position ofthe fingers, the lower fingers 12 extend at right angles within passagebyrthe cigarettes in the magazine compartment 7-rest on the lowerfingers 12. As the distance between the superposed fingers 11 and 12corresponds to the diameter ofja cigarette, upon pivoting movement ofthe fingers towards their other limit position the lowermost cigarettePatented Nov. 7,. 1967 within the compartment which is located justbelow the upper fingers 11, is allowed to be discharged because thelower fingers 12 become retracted, while the other cigarettes areretained on the upper fingers 11, because the latter take a projectingposition withinpassage 9'. Upon the further pivoting movement of thefingers, anew cigarette takes a position resting on lower fingers 12".

Casing 1 comprises two spaced parallel'flat front wall and back walls2'and-23; respectively, each. having an enlargedupper'portion' 22' and 23,respectively. These uppcrportionsareconnected by bars 24 and these bars,together with the upper edgesof portions 22; 23', are providedwithanoutwardly directed flange 25'.

A pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending guiding-walls 26extend between andare, securedto front and back walls22 and23 inthelower portions thereof. Walls 26 are spaced a distance corresponding to.the diameter of acigarette and have flaring upper marginal portions 27.The magazine 2, togetherwith' the two assembliesof fingers 11,- 12, bar13, and ro'd'15, is removably fitted between the upper" portions 22' and23 of'the front wall and-back wall of casing; 1 withthe' flange 6 of themagazine 2-resting on' theflange25oftheicasin-g 1 and with the dischargelower endof the magazine side wallsv engagingthe' flaring marginalportions-27 of the guiding walls -26-of casing 1.

In the fitted position of'the magazine 2', the groove 18 of head'17 ofeach actuating rod'15removably engages the' upstanding fork 28 at'the.rear end of a. pusher rod 29;

There are-two pusher rods 29; one on each side of the front wall 22=ofcasing wall, and'each mounted forslid: able longitudinal movement. in asupport bracket 30,

securedto said frontwall22'andeach of U shape. Each.

pusher 'rod29 has' an enl'arged'h'ead 31 at its front end, and issurroundedby' a coil spring 32 in the portion thereof within bracket 30,said coil'spring abutting againstone leg of the bracket and attached tothe, rod'at the other end, and resiliently urging the pusher. rod-,into.a:

forwardlimit position in which the fingers 11 and. 12,. assume-theirpivotal limit position in which the. lower fingers 12-extendacross thepassage 9 of the associated.

compartment 7 of magazine 2.

Whena pusher rod 291s depressed;jfingers 11'. and 12 pivot into theirother'limit position in. which, the lower fingers 12 are-retracted andthe upper fingers" 11 extend.

across-passage 9': Thus, by. pushing either one of'pusher rods-29, onecigarette ofthe associated compartment 7 of-magazine2 is-discharged fromthe saidmagazine and.

drops between= guidingwalls'26 to take aicigarette lighting position, asshown inFIGURE'3, in which the endlof'thev cigarette to be ignited is.adjacent front wall 22fof'casing Band-rests on-theupper horizontalportion 33of;a-,guide strip 34,- while the other endof the.cigaretterests on.a radial blade*35'of a four-'bladed"ro.tor 36; (see FIGURE. 1),which is secured'to'a' small shaft 37, extends, througha n' opening 38made in one guiding wall 26', ,shaft 37 being; journalledon saidguidii1gwall. The blade 35 on which-.

the-cigarette rests" extends across the passage defihed betweenthe: twoguiding walls"26and.is temporarily. main: tained in said positionby'latching .means to. be described hereinafter:

Mounted ina hole made innthe front wall 32' ofzcasing l below'the pusherrods 29 and in thecent'erlof thecasing,

the'front-wall22' and iniwhichis mounted'a sleeve 42, at... one end of'which is secured. an electricallj dnsulated.

electric resistance element 43lconnectedwith. the positive'side of theautomobil'ebattery by insulated wire. 44

and having a central contact 45 adapted to make contact with a contactrod 46 secured to a flanged cap 47 slidably mounted Within sleeve 42. Itis retained against spring 48 by a bi-metallic element (not shown) andthe electric circuit is closed betweenstud 45 and contact rod 46; theelementv 43' heats: up, andiignites the; end. ofi the cigarette incontact therewith and, at the same time, thebimetal element heatsupandfinally releases flange cap 47 which takes a projecting positionvlimited by a suitable stud member. A threaded stem49is screwed to cap 47at one end and slidably enters a pusher tube 50, at its other end. A nut51 isa-djusta'bly screwed onstem49. A coil spring 52 surrounds stem 49and pusher tube 50 and abuts at one end. against nut 51, and at theother end against a collar 53 secured'to tube 50. Thus, upon pushingonthe enlarg edhead'54 of pusher-tube 50, the latter pushes in turn onstem.49 which causes igniting mechanism-39 to take an igniting position.

Collar 53 isv an integral part of the middleof a.U- shaped'element *55,the legs 56" of which extendspacedly alongside casing 1 andprotrude pastthe back wall 23 of said casing'to be connected and'to actuatethecigarette suctionmechanism 40. The free end of each leg 56\ is pivotedat57" to one end of a rocker lever 58, the other. end of whichis.pivoted at 59 to a. collar 60Twhich is slidable on a vacuum tube 61'coaxial with igniting mech anism 39 and'disposed'at the back wall 23' ofeasing 1.

A supportbracket' 62 serves to rigidly maintain vacuum tube 61 in itsposition. Support bracket 62 comprises arms 63 secured to backv wall 23.and supportinga collar 64 in alignment with tube 61'; bracket 62 furtherincludes legs 65 spacedly disposed and parallel to vacuum tube 61" andprovided at their outer'end's witha. cross bar 66 having a centralopening through which vacuum tube 61 extends and is rigidlysecuredto'bar 66'.

Rocker levers 58- are. pivoted intermediatev their. ends at67' to thelegs 65; A suction'tube 68'is-sli'dably inserted; through collar 64,and'slides' also over vacuum tube 61, being in telescopicengagement'therewith. Suction tube 68" passes through an openingma'deinbackwall 23' andlis provided "at its inner end-withfunnel-shaped'element 69' adapted to abut one end'of, a cigarette C inigniting position. The'outerendof suction'tube'681is providedwithaflange -70 to which is attachedjone en'dof a coilspring 71 whichsurrounds vacuum tube 61' and. abuts at its other. end against theslidable collar"60;.

A- valve member-72 is secured'withinsuction tube 68 and'is' adaptedtomake sealing contact with the bevelled end'73 of-vacuumtube 61 whensuction tub e*68is. in released position. Valvemem-ber*72is'provided"with aplural ity of holes 74 near its periphery for the passage ofgaseswhen the valve -is open. Upon pushing on -head54 of push-. er tube 50-to--operate igniting mechanism 39, the legs 56 of U-shaped element 55cause pivoting movementof rocker levers 58 which, in turn, causeslida-blemovement; of "collar 60i towards the back wall 23 of casing 1.The'coil: spring 71 istherefore compressed-and causes-projectingmovement'of suction tube-68-within the casing -1, so'that funnel 69:engages the-end of cigarette-Gin cigaretteigniting. position. Coilspring 71 is calibrated sothat it-' causes only a small pressureton tube68 and consequently, ontcigaretteli; Spring-71 causes"retracting'movement of tube. 68 upon release of the igniting mechanism39;

TheShfiftfiTOfi-bltdfid101013611'138' an outer bent extension 75 adaptedto be engaged by a finger 76, secured to oneof "the ,legs .56 of Ushaped-element 552 In the released position of .ignitingmechanism 39';the" lowermost radial blade of; rotor 36'a-butsagainst resilient finger,77 secured-to the edgezof'opening38; thus:rotor 36 is resilientlymaintained; in aposition in which one of its: radial, blades 35' extendsacross Lthe; passage between the two guiding walls 26, .ready; toreceive: andfsupportaav cigarette dropped from magazine 2. Uponpushingnontpusher tube 50, funnel 69 is projected=within casing 1andiengages the. endv of, the. cigarette. C in,cigarette-igniting,positionl and,v meanwhile; finger 76 rides underneathextension, 75 andcauses; clockwise. rotation of rotor 36, so that itsbottom blade moves past resilient finger 77, the cigarette C. being,still held by funnel 69.

Upon release of the cigarette C by funnel 69, the weight of saidcigarette causes free clockwise. rotation of rotor 36, allowing thecigarette. to drop between guiding walls 26. This movement is obtainedbecause. rotor 36 is mount,- ed' with, a. ratchet mechanism on shaft37-, which. allows free. clockwise rotation ofthe rotor with respect to.the shaft, but prevents anticlockwise rotation of said rotor. Thus,extension is allowed to return under its. own weight; into, its originalposition upon release of the igniting; mechanism and movement to theright of the leg 56 on which finger 7.6 is mounted.

The blade. 35 which held the cigarette now takes a lower-most positionresting, on finger 77 and the next blade 35. extends across the passage.between guiding walls 26 ready to receive and support the nextcigarette. In order to maintain, the, legs, 56 of U-shaped element 55inoperative position, that is. towards the. right as shown in FIGURE 1,during the time the cigarette C is being ignited by the ignitingmechanism 39; legs 56 are threaded at 78 and, are

each provided: with an adjusted nut 79 adapted; to engage a resilientblade. 18, depending from an car 81 having, a hole through which thelegs 56 slidably pass, said car 81 being integral with and projectinglaterally from bushing 41. a

When the. bi-metal and spring 48 of theigniting mechanism, 39 causerelease, of cap 47,, the combined action 01 said spring 48 with spring52 causes release of nuts 79 from underneath blades and thus return ofthe legs 56v to, their original limit position towards the left ofFIGURE. 1 This causes retracting movement of the suction tube 68 towardsthe left, as shown in FIGURE 2,, and because. the. igniting mechanism 39simultaneously releases the. ignited end of the. cigarette, the latteris. allowed to drop at its non-ignited end, as shown in FIG- URE 3,whereby this latter end engages and slides. down a curved lower guidingstrip 82 and the portion of the cigarette adjacent its ignitedend slidesalso on the other guiding strip 34,; whereby the cigarette makes acomplete half turn in a. vertical plane and the non-ignited end slidesthrough a discharge opening 84. at the .bottom of the front wall 22. andcomes, to abut against upwardly extend- .ing flange. 85 at the.protruding discharge end of strip82.

In this discharged position, the non-lighted end. of the cigarette canbe easily grasped by the user...

It will be. noted that all the cigarettes within the dispenser lie inlongitudinal plan-es. parallel to the long axis of the motor vehicle inwhich the. dispenser is installed.

The dispenser is further provided with a mechanism to; prevent the.feeding. of more than one cigarette at a time tothe cigarette-ignitingposition. mechanism comprises the. following] elements: each selectorrod 29 is provided. with a pair ofnotches 86, 86, facing inwardly.N'otch 86 is spaced. a certain distance from the front end ofsupportbracket 30, as shown in FIGURE, 1,. when the pusher rod. 29 is inreleased position while notch 86" is adjacent said bracket 30,. When onepusher rod 29. is pushed to discharge a cigarette from the associatedcompartment 7" of magazine 2, notch 86 takes a position in alignmentwith a locking bar 87 and the free outer end of said bar is urged toengage the said notch. One locking bar 87' is associated with eachselector. rod 29. The inner ends of the two locking bars are pivoted at8.8 on an inverted T-shaped element 89 pivoted at 90, between pivotpoints 88, on support bar 91 extending across and secured to the twobrackets 30. A spiral spring 92, having one end secured to the pivot andthe other outer end to element 89, urges said element 89 to take aninclined position, as shown in FIGURE 5, in which the locking bars 87engage the respective notches 86 or 86' of the seieetor rods 2 The lowerportion or T-shaped element 89 is provided with. a. hole. 93. adapted toreceive the free bent end; 94 of an upright return rod 95, having anL-shape, the vertical leg 96 of which extends through elongated slots 97oftwo. superposed brackets 98 secured to the front wall 22, of casing 1.Return. rod 95. is urged away from said front wall 22 by means of coilspring 99.. The. lower horizontal leg 100 of rod 95 extends across frontwall .23. and. its, iree end is pivotally connected at 101, to a link102,. itself pivotally connected to. the upper end 103 of. the. arm. ofan eye. 1.0.4.v adjustably secured on leg, 56 by means of nuts, 105screwed on. leg 56. A, transversely extending pusher bar 106, is securedto. return rod, 95 just, above the. upper bracket, 98 by means, of rod107 secured to. the. center of pusher bar 106.. Each. selector rod .29is provided with an L-shaped arm 108 rigidly secured thereto anddepending: downwardly and inwardly thereof, whereby the outer free end109 of each arm 108 is di posed in alignment with the associated outerend of pusher bar 106.

In inoperative position, the bent'end 94 of. return rod 95 lies in aplane subsiantially perpendicular to front wall 22, of casing. 1 andengages hole 93. of T-shaped ele,-' meat 89 to maintain same; in uprightposition, as, shown in 4,, whereby said element 89 maintains the wolocking bars 87 in retracted, position. against action of spiral; spring92,. Upon depressing either one of selector rods 29 to, discharge a,cigarette into cigarette lighting; position, the associated L -shalpedarm 108. pushes against, the corresponding end. 109, of pusher bar 106which, in turn causes backward movement of return rod 95 towards wall22, against,v the. action ofcoil spring 99.. whereby the bent, end 94.of ret rn rod 9 disengag the hole 93 of element, 89 and. the. latter is.allowed to pivot in a clockwise diIeGiiOn, as shown in FIGURE 5., underaction, or spir l. spring 92, whereby the outer ends of the locking ars..7 eng ge he notch. 8 f. h Pusher rod which has remained in inoperativeposition; thus,,the o king bars 87 lock. b th pusher rods 5! against,further movement. I f

To unlatch the pusher rods 29, the igniting mechanism has to be,operated": upon depression of pusher. tube 50, ss- 56' move o ar s, thel s s own in FIG RE thereby rotating return rod 95 in accordance witharrow 110 shown in FIGURE 6, and" the bent end 94 again engages hole 93ofthe pivoted element 89. When the cigamechanism to its inoperativeposition, the legs. 56' move to the right, as shown in FIGURE 1,, whichcauses rotating returnmovement ofreturn, rod 95 which returns element 89to its upright position shown in FIGURE 4, wherebythelocking bars 87release the' two pusher rods 29 and the apparatus is ready for thedischarge and igniting of anothercigarette.

The apparatus inaccordance withthe inventioniis preferablymountedwithinthe instrumentpanel of a motor vehicle in such a way that thepusher rods 29 and pusher tube 50 face the operator; together withthedischarge opening 84. The long axis of casing is arranged parallel tothe long axis of the motor vehicle.

Themagazine 2* protrudes through an opening made in the top oftheinstrument panel and can be bodily removed. Ma-gazine2 may be providedwit-h a pivotal closure- (not shown), if" so desired. Vacuum tube 61 isconnected; to. a source of vacuum. such as the air intake of the,internal; combustion engine of the. vehicle. Wire. 44 is onnec ed. o helec rical circuit. of.- the motor; vehicle in conventional manner.

Magazine. 2 is removable to facilitate insertion. of a plurality ofcigarettes in the two compartments 7. Two different brands or types, ofcigarettes. may be used.

Upon. depression of the selected pusher rod; 29, a. cigarette. isdischarged, into. cigarette-igniting position and, upon subsequentdepression of the pusher tube 50, the cigarette in t a ter. positionisignited and au omat ca ly drops through the discharge opening 84 withits unlighted end abutting flange 85 in a position ready to be graspedby the user.

Because all the cigarettes are arranged with their long axis parallel tothe long axis of the motor vehicle, the apparatus takes a minimum widthon the instrument panel, and there is ample space for the otherinstruments on said panel.

FIGURES 7 to 14 inclusive relate to the second em bodiment of thepresent invention. In these figures, there is shown a casing180'consisting of an enlarged top portion 181 and a generally flattenedbottom portion 182, which is curved downwardly and forwardly and has thegeneral shape of a pistol grip. The top portion 181 forms amagazine-receiving compartment. It has curved lateral walls 183, a flattop wall 184, and a back wall 185, and its open front is surrounded by aflange 186 for securing the apparatus inside the instrument panel 188 ofa motor vehicle with front opening 187 being directed towards thepassengers.

Front opening 187 extends downwardly partly between the flat lateralwalls 189 of the bottom portion 182 of casing 180. A magazine 190 isslidably inserted within the top portion 181 of casing 180, saidmagazine 190 having curved lateral walls 191 extended downwardly withflat lateral wall portions 192, a flat back wall 193 adapted to abutagainst the back wall 185 of casing 180, and a front wall 194 adapted tobe flush with flange 186 and with the front wall portion 195 of thebottom casing portion 182, in the position of magazine 190, insertedwithin casing 180.

A cover 196 is secured to front wall 194 by means of knob 197, whichextends at the front of cover 196. Cover 196 is adapted to overlap themarginal portion of the opening 198 made in the instrument panel 188. Ahorizontally-arranged bar 199, of U-shaped cross-section, extends withinmagazine 190 and is spaced from the lateral walls thereof. Bar 199serves to retain to a certain extent the cigarettes on top thereof inthe magazine so as to relieve pressure on the cigarettes below bar 199.

Bar 199 is disposed just above the junction between the curved lateralwalls 191 and the flat lateral wall portions 192 of the magazine. Thelatter further includes a trap, generally indicated at 200, forretaining the cigarettes in the magazine and dispensing the same one ata time into cigarette-igniting position.

Trap 200 consists of a tray made of two elongated tray sections 201,each having a cross-sectional shape forming a quarter of a circle,sections 201 being disposed side by side so as to form a half-circle,the inside diameter of which is substantially equal to the outsidediameter of a cigarette 202, as shown in FIGURE 10.

Sections 201 are provided with end walls 203, which are pivotallyinterconnected at 204 at the top inside corners of the end walls 203 ateach end of the tray.

The pivot pins 204 are journalled Within the front and back walls ofmagazine 190, so that trap 200 extends longitudinally of the magazine inthe region thereof between the bottom flat lateral wall 192 of saidmagazine.

The space between the walls 192 and the sections 201 is very small andat least much less than the diameter of .a cigarette 202. Under actionof gravity, the sections 201 take a lowermost position, as shown inFIGURE retaining a cigarette 202 therein. However, the two sections 201may be pivoted upwardly above their pivot pins 204, so as to release thecigarette in the tray and let it drop into cigarette-igniting position.7

The discharging position of the tray is shown in FIG- URE 11. In orderto pivot the sections 201, each one is provided at the back of themagazine with a pin 205 secured thereto near the outer corners of theend walls 203 and freely extending through aperture 206 of magazine 190and aperture 206 of casing 180 and are lifted by mechanism to bedescribed hereinafter.

Upon removal of magazine 190, the cigarette trap 200, naturally, isremoved with the magazine 190. The cigarette released from trap 200drops into cigarette-igniting position onto a shelf 207 and aretractable finger 208. Shelf 207 is defined by a re-entrant portion ofthe front wall 194 of casing bottom portion 182, said shelf having anupstanding boss 209, more particularly adapted to em gage the smokingend of the cigarette 202.

Finger 208 is secured to a pivot pin 210 extending flat against theoutside of lateral wall 189 and journalled in brackets 111 secured tosaid lateral wall. Finger 208 extends through an opening 112, made insaid lateral wall, and is longitudinally curved to conform to the underside of a cigarette. Finger 208 has a cigarette-clearing position, asshown in FIGURE 7, extending downwardly within opening 112, and acigarette-retaining position, as shown in FIGURE 8, extendingtransversely across the passage formed between the lateral Walls 189 andengaging with the mouth-engaging end of the cigarette.

In the cigarette-igniting position, the cigarette is disposed inalignment with a lighter assembly 113, mounted at the front of theapparatus, and a suction assembly 114, disposed at the back of theapparatus.

The lighter assembly 113 is of conventional construction, being similarto those found in motor vehicles. It comprises a cylindrical body 115provided with cut-out resilient tongues 116 and a radial flange 117 atits outer end. Within the body 115, is slidably mounted a stern 118carrying an operating knob 119 at its end protruding from body 115 onthe outside thereof. The inner end of stem 118 carries a head 120 havingat its outer face an electric resistance element 121 wound in a flatspiral. Head 120 has a flange 123 engageable with bi-metallic blades 124which are secured inside a sleeve 125, of cylindrical shape, andprotruding from and secured to the front wall 195 and in communicationwith the interior of the casing.

Sleeve 125 has such a diameter that the body 115 has a sliding fittherein and is frictionally retained by tongues 116. Stem 118 is urgedin outward position with respect to body 115 by means of an internalspring, not shown, arranged within body 115 and engaging the stem 118.

The flange 117 of body 115 is adapted to abut against the outer end ofsleeve 125, and, upon pressing on knob 119, the stem 118 is displacedinwardly against the action of its spring, so that electric resistanceelement 121 engages the ignitable end of the cigarette 202 incigaretteigniting position and displaces the cigarette rearwardlyaxially of the apparatus.

Upon inward movement of stem 118, the electric circuit is closed for theresistance element 121, switching means being provided by the bi-metalblades 124 engaging the flange 122 of head 120.

The suction assembly 114 comprises a cylinder 126 secured to the backwall 185 of the. casing and opening within said casing. A piston 127 isslidable within cylinder 126 and has a tubular piston rod 128 intelescopic engagement within a short suction tube 129.

Tube 129 has a. radial flange 130 at its outer end and its inner end issecured to a rubber bushing 131 in axial alignment therewith. Tube 129is guided in the hole of a partition 132 secured to cylinder 126 andclosing the inner end of the same.

A main coil spring 133 abuts against partition 132 and against piston127 to urge the same into retracted position with the bushing 131retracted from within the casing 180, as shown in FIGURE 9.

A second smaller and weaker spring 134 surrounds tubular piston rod 128,is attached at one end to piston 127 and, at the other end, to flange130.

Spring 134 serves to retract tube 129 upon retracting movement of piston127 and to allow rubber bushing 131 to contact the cigarette incigarette-igniting position, in a gentle manner, upon advancing movementof the piston 127.

9 9 Tubular piston rod 128 has apertures, 1353 adapted to register withapertures 136 madein tube 129 when the lat:

' ter is telescoped over piston rod 128, as shown in FIGURE 8. Thecylinder 126 is closed at itsJouterendby. a cover 126' having a hole126" for the admission ofair behind the piston 127.v V I I p i Thespacebetween the piston 127 and partition 132 is in communication with asource ofvacuumby tube 137.

Tube 137 is preferably connected to the intake manifold ofthe internalcombustion engine of; the vehicle, or to any other appropriate sourceofvacuum, and isprovided-With' a shut-ofii pneumatic valve 128, ofconventional construction, andhaving an operating leverarm 139. V 1

.As shown in FIGURE 7, said lever arm 139 is automaticallyactuated bythe cigarette lighter assembly 113; more particularly, a link rod 140 ispivotally attached at one end to the outer end of lever arm 139, extendsalongside casing 180 and its front portion isjslidable within twospacedbrackets 141 and142 secured'to the casing 180 and to sleeve 125 of thelighter assembly.

Sleeve 125 has a longitudinally extendingislotil43, in which is movablea finger 144 slightly projecting within sleeve 125 and secured to linkrod 140JA coil spring 145 extends around link rod 140 and abuts againstbracket 141jand against finger'144 and serves to'move' said fingerforwardly to thereby normally maintain valve 138 in closed position.

be; lighted ;will befidisposed forwardly of the magazine. closest tocover 196. Magazine 190 is re inserted within casing180.

To; dispense a lighted cigarette, the lighter knob 119 ispushed in.This'immedi-ately actuatesflink rod 140.

which causes opening of valve 138. l V

' Cylinder 147 being smaller than cylinder 126 is evacuated quickerthan" the latter and its ,pistonrod 149 moves upwardly to firstcause'raising of finger; 208 and then 'actu'ationof trap;200 to dispensea cigarette which drops immediately onto acigarette-igniting position onfinger 208 and on boss 209 of shelf 207.-Further movement of t thelighter body 115 causes its head120 toengage the head 120 reaching itsinward limit position, whereby the. resistance 1-21 heats up to lightthe cigarette. Meanwhile,

Upon pushing on the lighterknob'119, flange 122 of head 120 engages thefinger 144and pushes against link rod 140, in order to open-valve 138 Avacuum actuator 146 serves to actuate trap 200 for releasing acigarette. Actuator 146 consists of a' cylinder 147 and of a piston 148,the pist on rod 149 of which extends downwardly from cylinder 147and'carries transverse barfl50,.over

the edge of which the pins 2050f sectionsiltlliare adapted Referring toFIGURE 7, a lever 153 is pivoted at 154 intermediate its ends to thecasing 180. A link rod'1'55 is' pivotally attached to the forward end oflever 153 and i to the outer end of the'crank arnrportion ofthe pivotpin 210 of finger'108. i i F 3 The rearward end of lever 153 ispivotally connected at 156 to aforwardly extending finger of bar 150.Thus, upon upward movement ofpiston' 148 under the action of vacuum,lever 153 pivots in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIGURE 7, tothereby cause'upward' pivotal movement of finger 208 intoacigarette-retaining position.

Bar 150 also lifts pins 205Iof'the,sections 201 which release a singlecigarette which drops onto the already lifted finger 208 and onto boss209 of shelf 207.

The bottom portion 182 of casing 180 has a pistol shape andis'terminated by a discharge opening 157, at

its lower end, said discharge opening being adapted to be outside thedashboard or instrument panel 188. Bottom portion 182 of the casingforms a passageway for the lighted cigarette, which has a width slightlywider than the diameter of a cigarette and which is forwardly forwardend of the cigarette and-t0 push the latter slight- 131 of which firmlyengaging the butt end. o'fthecigarette.

to the source of electricity, not shown, upon the lighter piston rod128becornesfully telescoped within tube 129 so that apertures 135and'136 are now in' regis'terand the inside of suction tube 129 is nowin communicationtwithf the source of vacuum, whereby air is suckedthrough the cigarette to further assist in the lighting of saidcigarette. Once the cigaretteis lighted, the bi-metal blades 124 lighterhead 120,..which immediately retracts under the action of the spring,not shown, contained in body 115.

The flange 123-of head120 releases finger 144, which 9 moves forwardlyunder the 'action of its spring 145,

twhereby link rod 140 moves forwardly and shuts ofi valve 128. Therebeing no vacuum in the cylinders 126 and V 147, piston 148. of-thelatter moves downwardly to thereby cause downward pivoting movement offinger 208,

and'falso downward pivotal movement of the sections 201 of trap 200toreceive a new cigarette.

The released cigarette, which is now lighted, drops.

into the bottom portion'182 of the casing 180'after retracting movementof bushing 131. The cigarettemakes a- 180-degree turn while falling downportion 182, as

shown in dot-and-dash lines in FIGURE 8,. so that the. non-lighted endof the cigarette appears in discharge opening'157 ready to begrasped bythe user. l

" From the'foregoing, it appears that the single manipulation of theknob 109, namely pressing on said knob} causes the entire op arette. rWhile preferred embodiments in accordance withithe invention have beenillustrated and described, itisunden stood that various modificationsmay be resortedftoawith from the spirit and scope of the appended outdeparting claims. Y

What I claim is; 1. A cigarette dispenser and lighter comprising, incombination, a casing having an elongated cross-section and downwardlyinclined to allow the cigarette to slide downwardly towards dischargeopening 157.

The curved back wall portion 158 of the bottom casing portion 182 mergeswith the top back wall 185, while end walls and side walls,'a storagemagazine in communication with said casing atthe upper portion thereof,igniting means mounted on one end wall of said casing, means todischarge a cigarette from said storage magazine, means to temporarilyretain said discharged cigarette into a cigarette-lighting position inalignment with said igniting means, manually-operable means tooperatesaid igniting means, cigarette guiding means to turn an ignitedcigarette released from said position from end to end in a verticalswinging movement, said end wall having a cigarette dis-' charge openingfrom which said guiding means protrude, whereby only the non-lighted endof the cigarette protrudes through said opening in the dischargeposition of said cigarette. v

2. A cigarette dispenser and lighter as claimed in claim 1, wherein'saidstorage magazine defines at least two seply rearwardly; meanwhile,cylinder 126 continues to be actuated, to therebycause forwardmovementof piston; rod 128 and-eventually of-tube 129', the rubberbushing The electric? resistance 121 is automatically connected areheated enough to bend outwardly to release the eration of dispensing alighted .cig

arate compartments-disposed side by side andopening at th'e'lowerendof'said magazine,.said casinghaving vertical guiding walls spacedfrom each other a distance sub sta-ntially-equal to the diameter of onecigarette, said guiding walls flaring at their upper ends forcommunication with the two compartments of said magazine, said cigarettedischarging means including a pusher rod and aretaining and dischargemechanism associatedwith each compartment of said magazine,said'igniting means in-. cluding =an'electric resistance element facingthe space between said two guiding walls, said cigarette guiding meansbeing disposed between said two guiding walls and below said" resistanceelement.

3. A cigarette dispenser and lighter as claimedin claim 2; wherein saidmeans for temporarily retaining a cigarette in cigarette-ignitingposition include an. abutment member disposed between said'guiding wallsadjacent and below saicl resistance element for maintaining one end. ofa cigarette in cigarette-igniting position in alignment with saidresistance element,-and aretractable member'disposed between saidguiding. walls and remote fromsaid' abutment member for supportingtheend of' said cigaretteremote from said; resistance element, saidguidingmeans. including a curved. guiding strip disposed. between saidguiding wallslandextending from one end wall of said'casing to theotherendwallthereof for engaging thenon-lighted end of anignitedcigarette released. by said. retractable member;

41 A. cigarette. dispenser and lighter as. claimedin claim 1, further.including locking means associated with said cigarette-dischargingmeans. and with said igniting means and operable; to lock: said.cigarette-discharging means upon a single operation thereofjto dischargeone cigarette, and returnable into unlockingv position by operation of.saidsignitingmeans;

5: A cigarette dispenser and lighteras claimed in claim 1,.furtherincluding a suction tube slid-ably mounted on theother end wall of .saidcasing-in alignment withsaid igniting. means; rnechanism connectingsaidsuction tube' and said igniting means to. press said said. suction tube:

against the: end of the'cigarette incigarette-igniting position remote.from the'encl in contact. with said. igniting means upon operationofsaid' ignitingmeans and to movesaid suction tube awayfrom saidcigarette uponreturn of said igniting means toa non-operative-position;

6.. A cigarette. dispenser'andv lighter as claimedin claim 1, whereinsaidmeans to discharge a cigarette: from said storage" magazine. includea pair. of elongated tray sections, disp'osedzside by. side, andpivotally'interconnected at:.their;ends; andeach havingacurvedcross-section forming a quarter of a circle, of an inside diametercorrespondingtor'the: outside diameter ofE-acigarette tot retain thesame when said. sections. are .innlowered; position abutting.

eaclrother, power: means for. pivotally raising said sec.-

ti'onsf to; allow a; cigarette tofall'therebetween, .randnneansr forcontrolling the operation of said power means and in.

12 turncontrolled by operation ofsaid manually-operable means.

7. A cigarette dispenser and lighter as claimed in claim 6, wherein.said power means include a vacuum-operated cylinder and'piston unit,pins secured-to said tray sectionsand removably engageable with thepiston rod of said unit.

8.- A cigarette dispenser and lighter as claimedin claim 7, wherein saidmeans to temporarily retain said dis charged cigarette include anabutment member disposed adjacent and below saidigniting means formaintaining one end ofa cigarette in-cigarette-igniting position inalignment with said lighting means and a retractable member remote fromsaid abutment member for releasably supporting the end of said cigaretteremote fromsaid' igniting means, said'retractable member being pivotallymounted on said casing and mechanically connected to the piston rod ofsaid cylinder and piston unit for movement of said retractable memberinto a cigarette-retaining position upon movement of said piston.

9. Acigarette lighter and dispenser as claimed in claim 8, furtherincluding a tube for'connecting said cylinder to a source of vacuum, ashut-off valve mounted in said tube-and mechanical linkage extendingfrom said shut-01f valve tosaid. igniting means and operated bysaid'igniting meansuponmanual movement thereof, to open said shutoffvalve.

10. A cigarette. dispenser and lighter as claimed in claim 6, furtherincluding a suction tube slidably mounted on. the. other end wall ofsaid casing in alignment with said igniting means, a cylinder and pistonunit having a piston rod engageable with said suction tube, the cylinderof said unit connected to a source of vacuum by a tube having ashut-oil. valve, mechanical linkage between said shut-01f .valve andsaidigniting means, whereby movement of said igniting means opens saidshut-off valve and vacuum in said cylinder causes advancing movement ofsaid piston and suction tube associated therewith to contact the suctionend of. a cigarette in cigarette-igniting position,

said. advancing movement establishing vacuum in said suction tube andspring means to retract said piston and suctlontubelupon. cut-01f bysaidvalve, to. thereby release the suction end of the cigarette.

1 RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner.

V. Y. MAYEWSKY, Examiner.

1. A CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND LIGHTER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, ACASING HAVING AN ELONGATED CROSS-SECTION AND END WALLS AND SIDE WALLS, ASTORAGE MAGAZINE IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CASING AT THE UPPER PORTIONTHEREOF, IGNITING MEANS MOUNTED ON ONE END WALL OF SAID CASING, MEANS TODISCHARGE A CIGARETTE FROM SAID STORAGE MAGAZINE, MEANS TO TEMPORARILYRETAIN SAID DISCHARGED CIGARETTE INTO A CIGARETTE-LIGHTING POSITION INALIGNMENT WITH SAID IGNITING MEANS, MANUALLY-OPERABLE MEANS TO OPERATESAID IGNITING MEANS, CIGARETTE GUIDING MEANS TO TURN AN IGNITEDCIGARETTE RELEASED FROM SAID POSITION FROM END TO END IN A VERTICALSWINGING MOVEMENT, SAID END WALL HAVING A CIGARETTE DISCHARGE OPENINGFROM WHICH SAID GUIDING MEANS PROTRUDE, WHEREBY ONLY THE NON-LIGHTED ENDOF THE CIGARETTE PROTRUDES THROUGH SAID OPENING IN THE DISCHARGEPOSITION OF SAID CIGARETTE